Jour 13 - Montlauzun to Lauzerte to Durfort-Lacapelette

As I mentioned, my gîte in Montauzun was owned by an English couple that had been in the business there since 2004.  They knew the area well, and the wife, Eileen, was very helpful giving me information on how navigate Lauzerte, a pretty medieval bastide town perched above the area known as the Quercy Blanc.  Like Montcuq, Lauzerte is considered one of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France", a distinction granted to some 150+ villages in the country. It was founded in the 12th century by the Count of Toulouse, the name being a combination of the gallic word for "flat paving or roofing stones" and the occitan word for "hill".  Before allowing me to leave, however, Eileen also made sure that I had birthday cake to fortify myself as two of her grandchildren, fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, had just celebrated their 6th birthdays.


Getting there, however, started to become somewhat challenging, as it started to drizzle lightly off and on. The fine rain was actually a relief,  as when the sun came out it was too hot.  Unfortunately, the rain created another unanticipated problem--mud. After the town of  Lauzerte, mud became a serious problem, and there were also many areas of the trail which were not well marked, especially when crossing farmer's fields. 

 If you click on the link here you can see the fantastic view from my gîte in Montlauzun. (You can also hear the grandchildren of the owners in the background).

leaving Montlauzun

serious mud

hard to walk with mud like this but difficult to clean off as well because 10 yards later there would be more

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somehow the length and steepness of these steps doesn't come across in a photograph of 2 dimensions

more sunflowers

Lauzerte--the weird flip to the pavement on the left is intentional

whimsy

and more whimsy

and more--this is a corner of the main town square below

the main square in Lauzerte just before lunch

lunch in Lauzerte

a lovely little place to retire

back on the trail

a farewell to Lauzerte

a pigeon coop

the tiny little church of St. Sernin

the old church has been renovated in modern simplity

we are now in the region of the chasselas grape

 (Psalm 46) 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the
earth should change, though the mountains shake in the
heart of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and foam, though
the mountains tremble with its tumult. 4 There is a river
whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy
habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of the
city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the
morning dawns. 6 The nations are in an uproar, the
kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The
LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 8
Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what
desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars
cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and
shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be
still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the
nations, I am exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD of hosts is
with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.